Improving access to healthy food for college students facing food insecurity
Official title: Adapting the Veggie Van mobile market intervention to address disparities in nutrition security among college students
Funded at State University of New York at Buffalo · NIH-11098740 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking to help college students at the University at Buffalo who struggle to get enough healthy food by improving a mobile market called the Veggie Van, so they can have better access to fresh produce and make healthier eating choices.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University of New York at Buffalo NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Amherst, United States) |
| Project start | May 30, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $240,253 |
| NIH project number | 5R21MD019367-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11098740 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are college students, particularly those from lower-income backgrounds, racial/ethnic minorities, and first-generation students who are experiencing food insecurity.
✕Less likely to help
Students who are not facing food insecurity or those who have sufficient access to healthy food options may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to tackle food insecurity among college students, which is significantly higher than the national average. It will adapt the Veggie Van, a mobile market that provides fresh produce, to better serve students at the University at Buffalo. The project focuses on understanding how to effectively promote nutrition security rather than just emergency food assistance, addressing the barriers students face in accessing healthy food. By implementing this intervention, the research seeks to improve students' dietary behaviors and overall health outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance the nutritional health and academic performance of college students experiencing food insecurity.
How similar studies have gone: Previous implementations of the Veggie Van in underserved communities have shown positive outcomes, indicating that this approach has a foundation of success.
Where this research is happening
-
State University of New York at Buffalo
Amherst, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Leone, Lucia a — State University of New York at Buffalo
- Study coordinator: Leone, Lucia a
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.